New Japan Pro Wrestling: Wrestle Kingdom 8

After the travesty that was WCW Slamboree 2000, I needed something good to watch. Looking through my files I noticed there was one event I've been meaning to watch, but haven't gotten around to. I'm going to try to shorten my reviews a bit, as every match on this card is fairly lengthy, with only two going under 10 minutes. I'll be going over some highlights and including gifs as well.

The show I've chosen today is none other than:

New Japan Pro Wrestling: Wrestle Kingdom 8

January 4th, 2014

Tokyo Dome, Tokyo Japan

I watched Wrestle Kingdom 9 and was obviously a big fan of it like mostly everybody else. The main event between Shinsuke Nakamura and Kota Ibushi was an instant classic and easy Match of the Year for me so far in 2015. However, Wrestle Kingdom 8 had what many people considered to be the best match of 2014 in Shinsuke Nakamura vs Hiroshi Tanahashi. I watched these two wrestle at Invasion Attack later in 2014 and gave the match five stars. I'm curious to see if this match will live up to the following encounter. 

Dark Match Eight Man Tag Team Match: Bushi, Captain New Japan, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Tomoaki Honma vs Jushin 'Thunder' Liger, Manabu Nakanishi, Super Strong Machine and Yohei Komatsu 

It's a bit interesting that the dark match is taking place on the Pay Per View, or I might just have a copy that included it. Either way this should be a fun matchup. Liger is a legend and one of my all time favorites.  They're having fun with this match as Komatsu hits a bridging single arm suplex and Liger starts counting the pin himself. Honma's Kokeshi headbutt is really fun to watch despite how simple it is. BUSHI is actually in what I believe is a Rey Mysterio mask. Captain New Japan is a fun character. He reminds me of the role that Curry Man played when he was around. Everyone gets their moves in, but there isn't a whole lot to call here as it's basically clotheslines and lariats. Tenzan pins Komatsu after a Kokeshi from Honma and a headbutt of his own, but the pin is broken up by all of Liger's team. Tenzan makes Komatsu submit to a Boston Crab.

Winners: Jushin 'Thunder' Liger, Manabu Nakanishi, Super Strong Machine and Yohei Komatsu 

Honestly, seeing as it was the dark match, I wasn't paying close attention to the match. Out of fairness, I'm not going to give the match a full rating, but it was fun to see these guys having fun out there. 

Four Way Tag Team Match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Forever Hooligans(Alex Koslov & Rocky Romero) vs SuzukiGun (TAKA Michinoku & Taichi) vs Time Splitters(Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA) vs The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) (c)

This is a match where I love the Young Bucks, the openers that are meant to be spotty and get the crowd hot. I have no doubt this will deliver. Match starts with a superkick party as the Young Bucks take advantage on Alex Shelley. Some double team moves start before KUSHIDA joins the fray. KUSHIDA hits a nice handspring back elbow on the Bucks before Forever Hooligans pull the Time Splitters out and dropkick the Young Bucks. Romero and Koslv work over the Time Splitters. I like Koslov's hat. He hits a nice double stomp on a seated Shelley for two. 

Having a face is overrated, anyway.

Taichi and TAKA both attack Koslov and take turns wearing his hat. They double team him and Taichi covers while TAKA counts it and celebrates like they won the match for a fun spot. They keep fighting with Koslov until he blocks a suplex that results in a suplex that involves all eight men. Just crazy. 

Top this one, WWE.

Some nice spots lead to the ring being cleared with Matt Jackson and Koslov suplexing each other over the ropes where TAKA hits a big Asai moonsault onto everybody. This ends with the Young Bucks double superplexing Taichi onto everbody outside. 

Just an awesome spot.

Everyone is back in the ring and now Nick and Koslov are exchanging strikes until Koslov gets Nick on his shoulders and Romero hits a nice doomsday device. Shelley gets now and he and KUSHIDA double team Romero. They hit an awesome neckbreaker/moonsault combo.

I love this

That only got a two count and now the Bucks are in with Taichi and they hit a Meltzer driver for a two count as TAKA breaks it up. He's met with a double superkick. More Bang for Your Buck follows on Taichi for the win.

Winners and still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions: The Young Bucks in 10:35

Awesome opener. I really love the Bucks in NJPW. They're perfect as those guys you use to really pump up the crowd with their offense. A ton of awesome spots and double team combos. ***1/4

IWGP World Tag Team Championship Match: K.E.S (Davey Boy Smith Jr & Lance Archer)(c) vs Bullet Club (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson)

Before watching this match, I haven't seen Archer or Smith outside of WWE, they weren't too impressive there, but I'm hoping they can impress me here. I've already stated my love of Gallows and Anderson, so I'm hoping for a good match here. Gallows and Archer start the match, but Archer tags out pretty quickly and they work over Gallows. I think Archer screamed "LET'S GET GREASAYYYYY" and I'm really confused. Anderson tags in soon after and works on Davey, working him over with some punches as Tonga I just noticed is lingering outside. Gallows tags in and tosses Davey outside after a few knee strikes but is attacked behind briefly by Archer. Davey tries to take advantage after a guillotine but is cut off and suplexed by Gallows. More double teaming by the Bullet Club as Tonga says "bullet clubbb" to the camera and instantly makes me want to have his vocal chords removed. Anderson hits a splash on Smith for a near fall. He goes for the cutter but eats a backdrop driver instead and both men are down.

Hot tag to Archer, but instead he trades blows with Gallows, eventually hitting a crossbody and a lariat. Archer tries to do Undertaker's 'Old School' move, but Tonga grabs his leg and crotches him. Tonga looks like an Uso. Archer tries a superplex to  Anderson but is knocked off. He kicks him in the face and hits a nice flipping crucifix thing for two. 

Anyone help me with this name? 

Archer and Smith hit a double team on Tonga to shut him up and I smile. They try the same move to Anderson but Gallows breaks it up. Smith hits a belly to back suplex on Gallows and Anderson kicks him in the face before Archer kicks him in the face. Archer goes for a chokeslam, and hits a big one on Anderson for two.

When's the last WWE chokeslam to look THIS good?

He tries another, but Anderson reverses into a cutter for a two count as Smith breaks it up. Gallows and Anderson hit their spinning neckbreaker double team for the win.

Winners and NEW IWGP World Tag Team Champions: Bullet Club in 10:27

Really solid tag team match and had some great moments in it. Good finish, awesome near falls. ***

NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Rob Conway(w/Jax Dane)(c) vs Satoshi Kojima(w/Hiroyoshi Tenzan)

Rob Conway is a weird case. I liked him more in WWE than I do on the indies and NJPW, but I also love Kojima and think he could pull a solid match out of Rob. The entrances in my copy are the only parts missing audio which is really strange, but I won't complain as long as I can hear the commentary, even if I can't understand it. 

The match starts with Conway flexing before a lockup. Kojima has had his shoulder taped forever. Conway takes control early, but Kojima takes it back with a backdrop after a few strike exchanges. They fight on the apron and Kojima hits a nice DDT on the apron. Looks like Conway didn't really protect his face there. 

Rob is no longer "Dashing" Rob Conway

Some chops in the corner by Conway as he struts and flexes. Harley Race is shown watching with the NWA World Title belt and that's pretty cool. Machine gun chops by Kojima and suddenly even my chest starts hurting. Kojima heads up top, but Jax Dane distracts him long enough for Conway to shove him off to the outside. Conway takes advantage on the outside. He kind of looks like Alex Riley, if Riley had an extra chromosome.  Back inside, Kojima gets hit with a sit-out spinebuster for two. More flexing by Conway, then that titty dance thing Chris Masters used to do. Conway tries to double chop Kojima, which works okay until Kojima lariats Conway's arm and hits a big brainbuster for two. Tenzan distracted Conway a bit, and then attacked Dane when he tried to choke Kojima. Those two are brawling outside, while Kojima takes a spear. Kojima hits a big lariat to the back of Conway's head, and then hits a a huge lariat for the win.

I love Kojima's lariats

Winner and NEW NWA World Heavyweight Champion: Satoshi Kojima in 8:27

This was a perfectly acceptable match. It seemed like a really long eight minutes Conway hasn't really improved much since the last time I saw him, but Kojima was able to carry him well enough. **

After the match, Kojima takes a picture with Harley Race and the NWA title. Cool moment.

Kazushi Sakuraba & Yuji Nagata vs Daniel & Rolles Gracie

I still don't know what Sakuraba and the Gracies are in NJPW. They bring nothing to the table. I'm assuming it's based on their MMA fame from the legendary PRIDE promotion. Sakuraba in Mixed Martial Arts was known as the "Gracie Hunter" because he had a great record against the family.

But this is professional wrestling. Honestly, Nagata deserves so so so much better, and I'm just not even doing a play by play in this one unless something actually blows me away. I'll do some highlights instead. Sakuraba and Daniel start and exchange submissions for two minutes, but it's not at all interesting. Nagata and Rolles tag in and they do the exact same thing. It's been three minutes, but feels like fifteen. The match picks up a bit at five minutes when Nagata kicks Rolles and they shove each other and...right back into exchanging submissions. Rolles refuses to break a hold, so the ref pulls him off and yells at him. Actually some good heel work there. Daniel tags in and throws really weak punches on Nagata. There was one bright spot here. 

Finally a nice spot here

The match eventually ends when Rolles chokes Nagata with his black belt and the ref disqualifies him.

Winners by DQ: Kazushi Sakuraba and Yuji Nagata in 9:50

Why is this a match you put on one of your biggest shows of the year? The blow by blow is so short because there was nothing to this match at all. It was nearly 10 minutes of strike and submission exchanges, but not in an exciting way like you'd get from a Kurt Angle vs Stone Cold match. Nagata just deserved so much better. This is beyond a dud. -*. Yes, negative one star. 

Tag Team Match: The Great Muta & Toru Yano vs Minoru Suzuki & Shelton 'X' Benjamin(w/TAKA Michinoku)

I really really dislike Yano, but I love Muta and Benjamin. Muta is the definition of a legend, so I'm really hoping to see if he can still go in this match. He's up there in age, but I'm hoping for a shining wizard. I'm already excited. Muta is a Power Ranger 

Mighty Morphin' Power Muta

Yano might be my least favorite NJPW wrestler ever. Even moreso than the Gracies and Sakuraba. Suzuki and Muta start the match as Muta spits a green mist and solidifies having the coolest looking masks of all time. They start with some chaining but ends in a stalemate as Benjamin tags in now to face Muta. I'd love to see these two in a singles match. Benjamin was great in WWE, but I'm glad he didn't stick around because he's been even better since he left.  They chain around for a bit until Muta slides under the bottom rope and starts looking under the apron. He pulls out...something. I really don't know what the hell it was. Yano tags in and my interest in the match goes from 95% to 3%. Luckily, Suzuki locks in an awesome arm triangle from the apron and pulls Yano outside and whoops him there while Benjamin whoops Muta on the other side. Yano actually has been pretty tolerable so far, so maybe I should give him a fair shot here.

Taichi attacks Yano with a chair outside, and I had no idea he was at ringside. TAKA and Taichi choke him with a chair as the ref kicks em out. Benjamin takes his turn with a scoop slam on the mat. Back inside, Benjamin covers but the ref is MIA. Covers again for a near fall. Suzuki is in now and he starts taunting Muta before going back to Yano. Benjamin is back in with a tight hammerlock in the ropes. SuzukiGun are playing the heel numbers game really well here. Muta tries to bring in a chair but the ref says no, Muta looks like he's saying "what the fuck, man? They just killed him with one!" Yano tries a suplex to Benjamin, but gets hit with one instead. Muta finally tags back in and goes to work on Benjamin with a corner kick and dragon screw before tossing him outside. Now Muta uses his chair, beating both Benjamin and Suzuki with it. Inside now he hits the legendary Muta flash elbow on Benjamin before Benjamin takes control with the Dragon Whip kick he used in WWE and tags in Suzuki. Yano tags back in and this happens:

lol

Suzuki locks an armbar on Yano but Muta breaks it up. Suzuki locks in a sleeper hold next, which he eventually reverses and Muta comes in with an awesome Shining Wizard off Yano's back.

Legitimately my favorite move of all time

Muta hits dragon screws and Shining Wizards on Benjamin, before hitting a big mist on Taichi. Suzuki uses the distraction to lock in a sleeper hold on Muta. Yano breaks it up and Suzuki locks in another sleeper, but Muta hits him with a mist into a rollup by Yano for the three.

Winners: The Great Muta & Toru Yano in 12:04 

This dragged on in spots, but was actually a fun match to watch. I'm bias in my love for Muta and the shining wizard, so I might rate this higher than most. **

Intermission time, which is good, because the shorter match of the last five is 15:05. So far, the show has been really solid barring the one shit show. I'm expecting this to show to finish extremely strong.

King of Destroyer Match: Bad Luck Fale vs Togi Makabe

From my understanding, the rules of this match are you can only win by submission or knock out. I HATE Bad Luck Fale and seeing nothing redeeming in him, so I'm hoping this is shorter than the match time I saw prior to this review. This match starts hot right out of the gate with the two exchanging some stiff strikes. Makabe gains the advantage and sends Fale to the outside. There was something in the rules listed that had the number three. I'm not sure what it's referring to. Some sources say it's a Last Man Standing type match, others say it's more I-Quit where it's submission or KO only. 

Fale wraps a chain around Makabe's head and drags him around ringside. THAT is awesome and brutal.

This would have gotten Fale fired elsewhere

Makabe looks dead on the outside, which he could be, but he's resurrected quickly enough to where Fale can roll him back in the ring. Samoan Drop by Fale followed by some elbow drops. Camel clutch by Fale, but Makabe won't quit so he stomps on him some more. The ref checks on Makabe, but he doesn't want to give up. Definitely seems like I Quit type rules. Pretty cool to see in NJPW. Fale beats the crap out of Togi in the corner, but Togi eggs him on asking for more. I love that. Body strikes continue, and Makabe avoids a corner splash as Fale slaps him a bit before Makabe levels him with a big lariat. Some corner clotheslines by Makabe as he tries the ten-corner-punch and is successful. He hits another lariat and is in firm control of this match now as he hits a Kryptonite Krunch.

This is impressive

Fale grabs the chain again and wraps it around his wrist on the outside, but Makabe fights back and takes it from Fale, wrapping it around his own and hitting him with it repeatedly. Makabe grabs a table from ringside and smashes it against Fale's face. It's a very small table. Fale is a very large man. Makabe tries to go up top, but Fale stops him and throws him off the ropes into the ring. Corner splash then a grounded splash as the ref checks on Makabe, the PA guy starts counting, so it's also Last Man Standing rules as well, cool.

Fale hits his stupid chokeslam/samoan strike move that I can't stand, but Makabe gets up almost immediately, but is visibly shook up.  Fale goes for a powerbomb, and hits a big crucifix powerbomb on Makabe. The ref begins the count again, but Makabe gets up at the count of 9.  Fale can't believe it and he goes up top after slamming Makabe, but he misses a splash. That's a lot of weight hitting the mat. Makabe hits a big lariat sending Fale to the outside. They fight back over to where the easy bake oven sale table is, as Fale lays Makabe on the table. He doesn't seem to know what to do next. Lucky for him, Makabe chose for him.

Luckily, his head broke the fall.

Back inside, Fale seems out of it after a few corner strikes from Makabe, and barely gets up before 10. Makabe follows up with a knee drop to the back of his head and goes up for another knee drop to the face for the win.

Winner: Togi Makabe in 15:05

I saw some of the ratings for this match, and I actually enjoyed it a lot more than others. This was a solid brawl and was a ton of fun to watch throughout. The 15 minute match felt like it was over in half that. ***

Hirooki Goto vs Katsuyori Shibata

Here's where business really starts to pick up. I'm a big fan of both guys, and I really hope this match delivers. They start with some lockups that end in stalemates until Shibata slaps Goto. The next stalemate, Goto tries to Shibata, but he ducks and slaps Goto instead. I chuckled at it. Some nice chain moves has Shibata locking in a leg lock while Goto continuously slaps him to try to break. Some stiff forearms in the corner by Shibata as he runs to the opposite corner, and we get this awesome sequence right here: 

Not many sequences like this run so smoothly

Goto seems to know that Shibata has his number at every turn. They start exchanging really stiff strikes now until Shibata takes advantage with an uppercut and a super stiff basement dropkick in the corner. Goto rolls outside the ring, but Shibata runs out and immediately throws him back in. It's the little things that tell the best story. Back inside, Shibata retains control with more stiff kicks. Goto finally gets some reprieve after hitting a big lariat. Corner clothesline but Goto followed by an elbow off the top for two. They exchange lariats and big boots for a bit until Shibata hits two big boots, Goto catches a third attempt and hits a discus lariat.

Beautiful. Painful.

Shibata takes control again with an abdominal stretch, when Goto gets the ropes, Shibata just suplexes him onto his head. Smart man, until he lifts Goto and he hits a backdrop driver of his own. This leads to hem exchanging backdrop drivers, but ends with Shibata hitting a Pele kick for a double down. Great sequence. Another big sequence of them no-selling each others moves as it ends with them crawling into opposite corners to recover. Seriously some fantastic spots in this match. Goto is up first and  calls for the finish, but Shibata reverses and locks in a sleeper hold. Shibata hits a Death Valley Neckbreaker followed by a kick to the face of Goto for a near-fall. Shibata tries another death-valley move, but Goto reverses and hits his DVD-Neckbreaker, but holds on into another big neckbreaker for a two count. Goto hits the Ura Shouten for another two count! I love that move.

Float like a butterfly, sting when I break my nose

Goto calls for the finish again and tries for the original Shouten, but instead Shibata hits it on him! Both men are down and that was an awesome twist. Shibata calls for the finish now, but Goto fights out of it and hits a vicious headbutt, but Shibata does one of his own that floors Goto and both men are down again. The ref begins counting both men out, but somehow they make it to their knees as they exchange strikes once more. Goto catches a kick and hits a huge lariat for two. Goto hits another huge lariat, followed by the Shouten for the three.

Winner: Hirooki Goto in 15:33

This was awesome, just flat out awesome. Great story, great brawling and awesome spots and sequences. I'm a sucker for great brawls, and this was absolutely one of the best I've seen. Easy Match of the Night to this point. ****1/2

We get a promo from Kota Ibushi in a park. He does a flip. I can't understand the promo, so I assume he's talking about how delicious cupcakes are. I agree, Kota, I agree. That said, this next match (the next three actually) should be fucking awesome.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Prince Devitt(w/Bullet Club)(c) vs Kota Ibushi

The last match delivered far and beyond what I was expecting. I'm hoping Devitt and Ibushi can do the same here. Devitt is coming out with druids in a coffin. Oh, by the way, here's what Devitt looks like here. 

I cannot wait to see him work a Wrestlemania

He comes out of the coffin limping, but more like he's a zombie and not like he's hurt. This dude just lives this gimmick and it is fantastic. Seriously, I love him in NJPW, but he is going to be HUGE in WWE one day. The match starts and Devitt holds that dead on stare and I'm excited. 

They start with some chaining, but neither man really gets an advantage as they try to one-up each other. Kota hits a big roundhouse kick, but as Nick Jackson distracts Ibushi, Devitt takes control for a moment, but Ibushi side-steps Devitt and he knocks Gallows, I think, off the apron. Devitt distracts the ref as Bullet Club pulls out and beats down Ibushi on the outside. It's a complete ambush. Devitt maintains control back in the ring with some kicks in the corner and a dropkick to follow. He puts Kota in the tree of woe and stomps away. He distracts the ref again as Anderson chokes Ibushi. Abdominal Stretch by Devitt as Ibushi has not had a chance to mount any offense thus far. Near fall by Devitt as he throws Ibushi into the corner, Kota reverses a charging Devitt with a boot in the corner and hops onto the second rope, but he's quickly sent outside with a chop. While outside, this happens:

That bump probably hurts like a...well, like a powerbomb to the apron

Devitt goes up top and misses a big double stomp and Kota comes back with a weak drop kick. Devitt rolls outside and Kota tries a plancha, but the Young Bucks run in to try and stop him but he ducks a lariat and hits a double backflip kick on both of them, followed by a 360 moonsault plancha taking out all of Bullet Club. Springboard dropkick by Kota gets him a two. Standing shooting star and a springboard moonsault combo gets another near fall. Roll up by Devitt gets another two. Kota nails a big German suplex for yet another near fall. Ibushi heads up top, but Anderson grabs his leg as Devitt runs up behind him and shoves him over the ring post and into the guard rail. Jesus ouch. Wish it had a better angle. The refs are finally sending the Bullet Club away from the ringside area. It's kind of funny to see considering all the refs are like half the size of Gallows. Ibushi gets absolutely murdered with this dropkick.

In other news: Devitt is a dick

Devitt heads up top back in the ring, and hits a double stomp to a doubled over Ibushi for two. Some chops and strikes are exchanged before Devitt hops to the second rope and Ibushi hits an enziguri and a sprinboard frankensteiner for two. Ibushi goes up top again and misses a phoenix splash. Devitt hits a big reverse brainbuster for another near fall. Big double stomp by Devitt off the ropes gets another big near fall and Devitt is Devastated, or would you say, Devittstated? (eh? eh? I'll leave now.) Devitt's Bloody Sunday is reversed into a big roundhouse kick. A german suplex and lariat by Kota leave both men down briefly. Ibushi hits the sit out elevated powerbomb for a shocking near fall! He goes up top and hits a massive Phoenix Splash for the win.

Winner and NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion: Kota Ibushi in 16:22

This was another damn good match. I don't think it was as good as Goto/Shibata, but it still told a good story with good brawling, high flying and some sick spots. Still an easy ****

At this point it became five o'clock in the morning with another hour of wrestling to go. I went to sleep and had a dream that Kota Ibushi defeated AJ Styles for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Invasion Attack 2015. I hope I'm right, but I don't think it'll happen. The show has a very very nice card though. April 5th, 2015, check it out.

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada(c) vs Testuya Naito

Big fan of both of these guys, and I'm hoping for another great match here. It's a long one, but hopefully they can make it fly by.  I'm going to try and avoid a real play by play here like I said I was going to but obviously have not. But a half hour of play by play would be ridiculously long. It might, however, help me shorten some lengthy reviews later on.

The bell rings and follows with a big stare down. I don't know the build up for this match, but it seems like it was awfully personal. We start with some chaining and more stare downs. They exchange strikes and arm drags for a minute or so and Naito takes control briefly with some rest holds and leg locks. Naito hits his flipping senton and gets a near fall. Naito seems to be working the neck area of Okada as he locks on a nice neck lock.

I don't know what this is called, but I like it. 

Okada escapes that hold and comes back reversing a springboard dropkick with a triangle dropkick that sends Naito outside. They begin brawling outside the ring and I'm reminded of another difference between Japanese and American wrestling. but first, Okada locks in this incredibly weird submission. I'm really not sure what exactly is being worked here, but it looks like a reverse abdominal stretch that's modified:

This actually looks more painful for Okada

Still on the ramp, Okada hits a long running dropkick as Naito starts being counted out, but he gets back in the ring and takes a suplex for two. Okada keeps control of the match with some corner strikes but Naito fights back for a minute until Okada drops him and hits a tope atomico from the apron to the ring. Nice move. Okada locks in a variation of the triangle choke on Naito, sort of like a straight jacket triangle choke. Innovative and pretty cool, this match has been good for that. Okada tries a splash in the corner, but Naito moves and hits his own followed by a dropkick to get a chance to catch his breath. Naito takes over with some moves including a scoop slam and dropkick that sends Okada into the corner. He beats the crap out of Okada there, similar to the Steve Austin stomps that Austin used to do. Doesn't happen often in NJPW, so it adds a nice bit to the story of the match.

Outside, Okada tries a tombstone, but Naito hits a tornado DDT. Awesome.

This is how Tornado DDTs should be done.

Naito rolls him back in and connects with a springboard dropkick to the back of the neck, followed by a nice Koji Clutch submission, but Okada escapes. A few strikes later they get into a stare down and Naito goes effing crazy with headbutts, but Okada sends him out of the ring with a big dropkick. 

Another difference, like stated before, between American and Japanese indies, is that in Japan, the brawls are mostly different, whereas in WWE, all of the brawls outside the ring are basically the exact same thing, there's very little originality in WWE today.

HOLD THAT THOUGHT. Okada hits a huge hangman's DDT off the apron, dropping Naito right on his head!

Will the real Slim Shady please stand...oh

Naito barely gets in before the twenty count. Okada hits a giant elbow drop from the top and calls for the Rainmaker, but Naito reverses that, and then reverses another move into a DDT and both guys are down. Naito hits a rolling kick to take control. I love that move, it's so great when done right. It's also underrated, like the new Rachel Sandwich from Arby's (prices and participation may vary). Naito locks in another Koji Clutch, but Okada escapes again. Naito goes up top for the Stardust Press, but Okada pulls him down and hits a flapjack, and locks in his cross legged STF he calls Red Ink, but Naito escapes again, only briefly however, as Okada locks it in a second time, but Naito got the ropes. After a brief strike exchange, Naito hits a big flying forearm to Okada's face and sets him on top for a frankensteiner. Beautiful dragon suplex gets a two count.

How To Train Your Dragon...Suplex

Naito is pissed off that Okada dare kick out and hits a wrist lock sideslam for two and immediately tries the stardust press again, but Okada rolls out of the way and both men are down. Naito takes a neckbreaker for a two count, followed by an awesome Death Valley driver for two. Naito reverses another Rainmaker into a roll up for two followed by a big sambo suplex. They both get to their knees exhausted and exchange some big forearms, this continues when they stand but with some harder shots until Naito just headbutts Okada like a douchebag. Okada uppercuts the crap out of him for it and tries another Rainmaker, but Naito reverses it and just bitch slaps Okada.

What did the five fingers say to the face?!...SLAP!

Naito goes off the ropes and takes a dropkick before reversing ANOTHER Rainmaker attempt into a rollup for 2. Two Tombstone piledrivers by Okada is enough for him to finally connect with a Rainmaker for the win!

RAINMAKAHHHHH

Winner and still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Kazuchika Okada in 30:58

This was just insanely awesome. The story was fantastic, it had great action, a great flow and it was back and forth the entire time. I loved that it took six tries for Okada to hit his finisher. This is a must watch match for any wrestling fan. ****1/2

IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura(c) vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

That last match is going to be hard as hell to follow, but if anybody can do it, it's these guys. Tanahashi and Nakamura are my #1 and #2 favorite wrestlers in the world. After watching the match they would later have at Invasion Attack 2014, I'm so excited to see how this stacks up with it. The last three matches have all been at least four star matches. This might be the best 2nd half to a show of all time if this match delivers. Words cannot describe my excitement. 

Tanahashi enters and rocks out with a guitar dude and Nakamura continues to have what I think is the best entrance in wrestling. Oddly enough, his entrance this time as strippers on stripper poles, therefore best entrance award is confirmed now. 

The bell rings and here we go. They lock up and end up against the ropes and back off each other before they go right into the chain wrestling. They avoid some ground strikes against each other and have another stare down. Another lockup wrestling in some knee strikes by Nakamura, and a knee breaker by Tanahashi as he goes after the leg of Nakamura immediately with some leg kicks. A lot of leg kicks, actually. Tanahashi goes for a crossbody but is caught in a gutbuster. 

Love this spot when it's done this well.

Nakamura follows it up with a few knee drops and a two count before dumping Tanahashi outside the ring. Some guard rail spots follow before they go back in the ring and Shinsuke gets a two. This match seems personal with the two as Nakamura kicks the head of Tanahashi in the "get up, punk" kind of mocking way. Nakamura takes a kick from the corner by Tanahashi, but then kicks him like a punching bag.

More roundhouse kicks should be sold like this.

Great sell that made the kick look so much more powerful. Nakamura does his spasm in the corner choke, but Tanahashi grabs the foot and hits a dragon screw on the leg he's been working. I love when wrestlers don't ignore the body part they were working on. Sign of real talent. Slam by Tanahashi followed by a flipping senton from the 2nd rope for a two count. More kicks to the knee of Nakamura before a dropkick to the knee. A chop block follows and Nakamura is seemingly on the verge of tears here. Tanahashi attempts a single legged crab but Nakamura panics and gets to the ropes. Great selling by Nakamura in this match. 

Nakamura takes advantage with a back kick and a standing front guillotine is locked in. He brings Tanahashi to the mat and hits some more grounded knees to the head before dropping him on his face with a reverse suplex. Now Nakamura hits the spasm-choke, which I like to call the Epileptic. Tanahashi goes for a corner splash, but Nakamura moves and hits two of his three patented knees before Tanashi escapes onto the apron. They brawl outside the ring a bit more. Nakamura has Hiroshi on the apron and hits a big knee before missing a knee drop and crashing his bad knee on the outside. Tanahashi goes up top and does this:

This is legitimately a perfect crossbody. Beautiful. 

Both guys beat the twenty count. Tanahashi is on the apron, Nakamura in the ring, Tanahashi grabs his leg and hits a dragon screw through the ropes, real cool spot. He goes in the ring, but Nakamura locks in a triangle choke and Tanahashi seems to fade a bit before he reverses it into a big Boston crab that's focusing the pulling motion on the bag knee. Fantastic attention to detail in this move. Nakamura gets the ropes to break the hold. Straight Jacket German Suplex by Tanahashi gets a two. I freaking love that variation.

Such a small addition with the initial escape added so much to this

Tanahashi goes up top, but Nakamura hits an enziguri to knock him off, but he holds on and skins the cat to get back in, only to be met with a backstabber by Nakamura. Nice spot there. Tokyo Strike Exchange takes place while the crowd is cheering like crazy. It ends with Nakamura going crazy with strikes and flooring Tanahashi with a big boot before he rolls onto the apron and Nakamura just starts stomping his face repeatedly.

Whose gonna get their f**king head kicked in?

The ref pulls him off Tanahashi, which works briefly. Tanahashi goes for a chop block, but Nakamura gets up and hits a big Boma Ye! But Nakamura is down too and can't cover. Big reverse powerslam by Nakamura as he calls for another Boma Ye, but Tanahashi reverses it into the Slingblade, but he can't cover and chooses to head to the top rope. Nakamura stops him and goes for a big move, but Tanahashi reverses it into a sunset flip spot that is almost botched but they save it. Tanahashi tries to powerbomb Nakamura but it's reversed into a codebreaker! Dragon suplex by Tanahashi gets a two as he goes up top and hits a big big frog splash for two!

Eddie would be proud;RVD would be high

Both men are down as Tanahashi is slow to get to his feet. He calls for the Slingblade but takes another dropkick from Nakamura who goes to the 2nd rope and hits another Boma Ye! Followed by a third Boma Ye, but Tanahashi kicks out!  Nakamura is clearly annoyed as he calls for yet another one, Tanahashi dropkicks the knee and a strike exchange ends with Tanahashi reversing a Boma Ye into a big dragon screw! Tanahashi locks in a big Texas Cloverleaf and Nakamura gets the ropes before Tanahashi drags him into the middle of the ring! Nakamura reverses it, but Tanahashi locks it in again and actually turns it into a Styles Clash and both men are down! That was a weird spot, but worked well enough.

Tokyo Clover Clash?

Tanahashi is able to get back to the top rope hits a huge crossbody on a kneeling Nakamura, followed but another huge frog splash for the three!

Winner and NEW IWGP Intercontinental Champion: Hiroshi Tanahashi in 23:24

Seriously fantastic main event. I don't know if it was as good as the match they would have later this year, but there was absolutely nothing wrong with this match at all. ****1/2

Overall: 10/10 Perfect. Take away the travesty that was the Gracies tag match, and every single match on this show was damn good, including THREE matches that I rank at 4 1/2 stars and another at an even 4 star rating. I actually think this was better than Wrestle Kingdom 9, but I won't put up a fight if you disagree with that statement. NJPW is easily the best promotion in the world today and it's really not even close. 

After this show, I continue my "Random Network Review" series. My randomizer has given me WCW Road Wild 1998! Stay tuned for that review within the next few days! See you guys soon.